The Great Egret is a large (80-104 cm),
white egret with a long S-shaped neck, a yellow bill, yellow iris and black
legs. The bare facial skin at the gape extends slightly behind the eye,
whereas in the similar but smaller Intermediate Egret, it terminates below
the eye.

The Great Egret is found in all kinds of
wetlands, both inland and along the coast, including estuarine marshes,
coastal mudflats, lake shores, rivers, rice fields and drainage ditches. It
feeds on fish, amphibians, snakes, aquatic insects and crustaceans. On land
it will also take lizards, small birds and mammals. It hunts by quietly
standing and watching for movement, or by slowly walking. Although it nests
colonially, it is mainly solitary outside the breeding season and will
defend a feeding territory; however, it may be found in large groups where
the food is abundant.

In Taiwan the Great Egret is a common
winter resident.

References: Handbook of
Birds of the World Vol. 1; A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon
and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan
(Wild Bird Society of Taipei)